While examining the ruins of an ancient house in Pompeii, Italy, a group of archaeologists came across something completely curious: a fresco depicting an ancient Roman “pizza”. A bakery also belonged to the building where the artifact was found.
Pompeii was an ancient Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, but volcanic action also left the city in ruins. Since then, researchers and archaeologists have flocked to the region to learn more about Roman life. You can read more about this story in the next paragraphs!
Fresco in the form of food
(Source: Archaeological Park of Pompeii)
Archaeologists report that the fresco discovered in Pompeii appears to depict a traditional food in the region pizza in particular. On the right side of the artifact, fruits such as pomegranates and dates can be seen covering a slab. On the left, the researchers noticed a piece of bread that looks very similar to what we know today as a pizza.
The image resembles a flatbread, similar to a modern pizza, but with some key differences. As far as we know, the ancient Romans living in Pompeii did not have the opportunity to enjoy the delicious recipe of our time since tomatoes and mozzarella cheese were not part of their diet.
The tomato originally comes from America and was only brought to Europe in the course of colonization from the 15th century. Instead of the sauce served on pizza today, the ancient Romans probably ate their flatbreads with a pestolike sauce made from basil — a traditional Asian recipe but one that was transported to mainland Europe via ancient spice trade routes.
dig Pompeii
(Source: GettyImages)
In an official statement, the Pompeii Archaeological Park explained that frescoes depicting still life depictions, such as the rudimentary version of a pizza, are part of a tradition called Xenia. They represented a kind of “heart and home” practice and encouraged a sense of hospitality in anyone who could get a glimpse of them.
This type of art emerged during the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greece. Therefore, Xenia is widespread throughout the Mediterranean. In cities near Mount Vesuvius alone, archaeologists have found more than 300 such frescoes. In addition, archaeologists believe that such works of art can provide important information about the socioeconomic status of the ancient house’s occupants.
Crumpled bread, much like modern pizza, was a very simple dish. Soon, lowerclass people developed the habit of eating flatbread as a staple of their diet. But that doesn’t mean the higher classes didn’t eat these foods — making flatbread an ingredient transcending everything else.
This can be seen from the very existence of the fresco, which suggests that the home’s owners had enough money to pay for an artist’s depiction of their meals.